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On the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), UNICEF’s long- standing support to improving water supply, sanitation and hygiene is highlighted and it is reinforced that t
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On the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), UNICEF’s long- standing support to improving water supply, sanitation and hygiene is highlighted and it is reinforced that these are central to ensuring the rights of children to survive, grow and develop into healthy and fulfilled citizens of India.

In the broader context, UNICEF’s activities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) contribute to the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals(MDGs) . The contribution WASH makes to key MDG targets such as child mortality, disease reduction, primary education, environmental sustainability, gender equality and poverty reduction, is clearly recognized.

The strong link of WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene) with child mortality is one reason why UNICEF, has included WASH as a key component of a cross-sectoral package of high-impact interventions, together with health, nutrition, and HIV/ AIDS, to achieve rapid progress in child survival and development.

UNICEF also recognizes the important contribution that WASH makes to achieving universal primary education and promote gender equality and empower women. Having adequate and appropriate water supply and sanitation facilities in schools is a major factor influencing whether children and especially girls attend school.

UNICEF’s long history of practical support interventions in water supply has also given us a unique position of trust with the government partners. UNICEF in India is preparing for new challenges by building appropriate human resources, leveraging partnerships and providing leadership within and beyond the United Nations on water, sanitation and hygiene.

Global Handwashing Day

Under the slogan of “Clean hands save lives,” the second annual Global Handwashing Day campaign to be celebrated on 27th October aims to engage schoolchildren as effective agents for change.

The introduction of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in schools, including handwashing with soap, is an entry point for children to understand and then take these good hygiene practices back into their homes and communities. Read More

Ten million students and 250,000 gram panchayats across India today celebrate the second annual Handwashing Day by demonstrating the correct way of washing their hands with soap, the best protection against diarrhoea and influenza.